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Why Bento?
Recently, preparing bento has been an elusive task, as shown by the absence of updates here. A sorry state that I’d like to correct because I have more reasons to prepare bento now that we’ve moved offices and there are less options for buying lunch. So I think a reminder post on why bento wins is called for—to give me that necessary push to go back to bento.
1. It’s cheaper. I know, I know. Being obsessed with bento can be expensive, seeing how I own more than 20 bento boxes. I confess to spending a couple of hundred dollars already on bento paraphernalia, but then, those aren’t necessities. If I just count the food costs, packing bento still translates to cheaper lunches.
2. It’s convenient. Having your lunch ready saves you time because the perennial question of “Where do we eat?” is solved.
3. It’s yummy! My bento always has to be delicious because I’m the one who’ll eat it! Personally, I always prioritize taste over cuteness because it’s something I’ll eat. If it’s not something I’ll want to eat undecorated on a plate, chances are, it won’t go into my bento.
4. O hai! I can has cute fud? Rly?1 Cute food makes my day. While I don’t prepare kyaraben2 all that often, on days that I do, it brings a smile on my face.
5. It’s healthier. When preparing bento, I try to balance the contents between carbs, proteins and lots of fruits and veggies. While I’m not always successful, all in, it’s still a concrete effort to be a little bit healthier.
6. It’s all about the food I eat. One great thing about preparing your own food is you get to choose what goes in your lunch box. So I’m always assured that it’s food I like to eat. But then again, I eat almost anything. *laughs*
7. I get to experiment on new dishes. Because I’m mostly cooking for myself, there’s no fear about wasting food in case a new recipe or an experiment goes haywire. And if it’s a success, I learn something new!
8. It’s a reason to blog! I know there’s been a dearth of blog posts here lately so I just hope this resolution will push me to prepare bento more, and update more often.
Now it’s your turn. What are your reasons for packing lunch?
1 lolcat – cat macros, popularly referred to as lolcats are pictures of animals, most popularly cats, with quotes in fragmented English superimposed on them. One of my favorite lolcat sites is http://icanhascheezburger.com/.
2 kyaraben – (character bento) Bento with characters from anime, manga, or sometimes, even celebrities on them.
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Grr – wordpress ate the first comment
I have about the same reasons to bring bento as you. Recently I’ve put health in the foreground to my reasoning though. First, the lunch restaurants here use a much larger amount of fat – it’s just that much easier to cook quickly and tasty if you add lots of it. And second, the portion size. A lot of places here have buffets, and I can’t control myself not to overeat there. With a bento (though I bring my larger boxes these days), I have enough to get full but not stuffed.
Oh, and since I make the food I don’t have to worry about whether there will be a vegetarian dish
Your reasons are good ones, and I agree with affordable, and healthier. I also find I eat more variety when making bentos.
But the main reason I like to do bentos is that it gives me an outlet for creativity – without wasting anything. I eat what I make, whether it is a mistake or a masterpiece. :0)
I have to bring my lunch to work, because I don’t drive and going out is not a realistic option. I work at a school and it has a cafeteria, but they never change their menu and eating there every day would be stupendously dull, not to mention expensive.
I started bentoing as a way to make a necessary chore more fun and interesting. It’s nice to have that break in the middle of the day where you sit down to your lunch and it’s not just a sandwich and chips. It’s like getting a little present from yourself.
grabe! bilib tlaga ko sa yo. ang tyaga mo gumawa ng bento! they’re so pleasing to the eye, parang nakakahinayang kainin kse mawawala na ung design. hehe! it’s really an art form! keep it up! looking forward to more of your bento posts!
are you a filipino? just wondering because i read your manosa blog
i always bring baon also.. that’s why im inspired by your bento.. 
God bless…
I am ROLLING over your LOLBento!
I love reading your blog. The pictures are always so beautiful, and the commentary is entertaining!
i pack my lunch for a few reasons. the cafeteria in my office is TERRIBLE (they can mess up something like garlic bread…i don’t get it!). i also like eating healthier and controlling what ingredients go into my food. it’s a great way to use leftovers and it saves lots of money! i want to pack bentos more often – throwing food into a tupperware isn’t as fun or exciting as a nice bento lunch, and it sure doesn’t make me smile as big
Hello kaoko. This is my first time replying your post after reading this blog for a while.
Me too always bring my lunch box to the office. Here, we have a very small cafeteria withe an awful lunch that I cannot resist. Also, I have to manage my very tight budget each month, so bringing my lunch from home is the best thing for this situation.
I love your blog and your creative menu, Also, your lovely doll family ^_^ Your blog makes me smile everytime I come to visit.
So, keep going!!
*waves* hello, I’m a new person, so this is going to be my first comment. Nice to meet you and to everyone who posted so far :3
I was a packed lunch girl when I was growing up, mostly because my mom was fearful that I’d eat something unhealthy. When I got to highschool (height of my weeabo years), I was given my first bento box, a hello kitty bento box from gift gate.
Unfortunately I stopped packing lunch in college as it was hard given I had to bring so many things along with me, but got back to packing baon on bento style boxes when I worked in the office.
It wasn’t until recently that I started collecting bento boxes (I got my J-list delivery just yesterday), unfortunately I work at home now so I don’t do baon any more XD.
@jokergirl
I should take a leaf from your book and start eating healthier as well, but sadly I’m too addicted to unhealthy food.
@Mer
Oooh! How could I have forgotten that reason! I agree, it’s a very interesting creative outlet.
@june
That’s unfortunate, not having choices. At least you have a bento to cheer you up
@jengkie
Thanks, glad you enjoy it. Buti na lang, when I’m hungry I just eat, regardless of how my lunch looks. Otherwise, I’d be wasting food.
@Jen Fil
Yes I am! Laking Manila, living in Cavite, working in Makati.
@nekonoai
I’m glad you find it entertaining. It’s nice to know people enjoy the blog
@Ashley
It’s unfortunate that a lot of people suffer from awful cafeteria food. And in your case, wow, I can’t imagine how anyone can get Garlic Bread wrong! Good enough reason to keep bento-ing!
@cats in the cradle
Thanks for reading! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog and I hope you keep visiting. And my dollies say hi too
@Silver Countess
Irasshaimase! Gift Gate? You’re Filipino as well? Hehe, collecting bento boxes is addictive isn’t it? Why not put the collection to good use? I know some people who work from home who still pack bento in the morning, then stash it in the fridge. She says it’s because it keeps her on track with her daily schedule because come lunch time, she just has to grab it from the fridge, without breaking her working pace.
And well, it’s a nice excuse to prepare pretty food, hehehe.
Oh you should join Lasang Pinoy 25, girl. It’s all about bento!
Oo nga e! I saw. I hope I have time. *worry worry*